The motto at Lugoff Elgin Middle School is "Understanding hearts and positive attitudes make a GREAT school" and the week of Thanksgiving, LEMS students put their motto into action. Miss Pearl, a former custodian, lost her house and all its contents to a fire, and students decided the Thanksgiving season was the perfect time to show Miss Pearl their gratitude.

The contest theme this year was "Peace, Love and Understanding." This Year's first place winner was Miranda Yarborough (middle), second place winner was Alexis Gardner (right) and third place winner was Autumn Barrett (left). Back row l to r: Leslie Pate, art instructor at North Central Middle, and Don Witham, club coordinator for the art contest for the Bethune Lions.

Crystal Noelle Johnson of Camden and Garrett Thomas Mann of Peachtree City, GA were united in marriage on Saturday, May 31, 2014 at six o'clock in the evening at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Camden. Reverend Willie D. Dennis officiated the double-ring ceremony. A reception followed the ceremony at TenEleven Galleria in Camden with music provided by Big Time Entertainment of Columbia, SC.

University of South Carolina sophomore defensive specialist and former Lugoff-Elgin standout Megan Kirkland has been named to the 12-player 2014 SEC Volleyball Community Service Team, which the conference announced last Wednesday.

• We note Elgin Mayor Brad Hanley's decision not to run for reelection in February. Hanley said increased responsibilities with his full-time job would make it difficult to keep up with the day-to-day responsibilities of mayor. Although he will be missed as mayor, we believe Hanley is exercising great responsibility in making this decision, recognizing the need to make way for someone who can fully commit to Elgin's mayoral duties. In his four years as mayor, Hanley has performed a tremendous job, leading the way on a variety of issues -- most importantly, keeping Spears Creek free of additional pollutants ...

For me, the holiday season is a time of joy and more importantly, thankfulness. It's a time that I try to reflect on the blessings that I often overlook in the everyday hustle and bustle that we all get caught up in. There are so many things for which I am professionally and personally thankful.

Lugoff Fire-Rescue (LF-R) will escort Santa Claus through the neighborhoods of Lugoff again this year. Santa will go through different areas of the Lugoff community each night. LF-R Chief Dennis Ray said firefighters enjoy this event each year so children can have the opportunity to see the "Jolly One" before he comes on Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus is coming to town, as the song goes, and children 12 and under can meet him in person and take a photo Thursday at the Kershaw County Government Center, 515 Walnut St., Camden. Santa will be in the upstairs administration lobby from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. and again from 2 to 4 p.m. Some of Santa's elves will also be there, helping out and collecting letters to Santa to be forwarded to the North Pole. Here, Rhett Hughes, son of Kershaw County Human Resources Manager Leigh Hughes, with Santa.